"The opening would take place on May 14 at 20.00 local time, a day earlier than on Sunday," Meutya Hafidz, the spokeswoman of the congress coordinating body, said here on Thursday.
It would be difficult to guarantee the readiness of the 3,600 participants to attend the opening on Sunday morning as originally scheduled, Meutya said.
She said President Joko Widodo has been informed about the change and the president had confirmed he would opened the congress, scheduled to last for three days at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention.
A number of cabinet ministers, leaders of high state institutions and political parties are expected to attend the opening ceremony.
The party would select its new general chairman among eight candidates including Ade Komarudin, Setya Novanto, Airlangga Hartarto, Mahyudin , Priyo Budi Santoso, Aziz Syamsuddin, Indra Bambang Utoyo, and Syahrul Yasin Limpo.
The extraordinary congress is decided after lengthy talks of reconciliation and political bargaining following split in the party leadership.
The party was split into two factions after giving support for losing presidential candidate in 2014 presidential election - one under business tycoon Aburizal Bakrie, the other under former parliament speaker Agung Laksono, who openly supported the ruling coalition
Both claimed to be the rightful leader and are petitioning the courts and the minister of justice for recognition.
Later , the party announced its decision to support the government of President Joko Widodo but it said it would not formally join the ruling coalition.
Golkars support would shift power at the Parliament in favor of the government. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
